NTBA - National Transport Brokers Association

[Jim L]

Once again, pondering ways to make our industry better all around, I am wondering if NTBA would be a good way to start bringing some form of compliancy and legitimacy to freight brokers.

Since the requirements in Canada are so low, and Loadlink only requires a business name and a bank account, how great would it be that a carrier could go on a website to see if the broker they are about to book a load with is a member in good standing with the NTBA? The NTBA could provide a sounding board and complaint resolution process between brokers and carriers. They could provide brokers with alerts, based on investigated complaints from other members, of carriers that are causing havoc. I could see them being an intermediary for escrow payments if both parties agree. As a carrier I would be able to extend more credit to a broker who has met much higher requirements through an independant third party.

Of course, the NTBA would need to step up their game a bit but I think that they already have the visibility and the structure to take off with this. They would just need buy in from brokers. We need them to provide enough services to become the defacto standard requirement for brokers.

Thoughts?

 

[LrgCar]

This would be great and help legitimize the Canadian Freight Industry almost like TIA, when working with brokers in the states we look for TIA and see it as a symbol of a trustable organization.

 

[JACKBURTON]

I'm down Jim, make it happen

 

[Mike1710]

Jim, we have been members of NTBA in the past. Looking at their website, I see only 2020 Board of Directors/Membership Apps. I wonder if they are still around?

 

[Jim L]

I have previously reached out and mentioned that I was going to put out the question. They are an association that was volunteer driven and COVID hindered the amount of time dedicated to the cause.

I sure hope that if there is ample interest generated and new life/members are brought in they will have the gusto to take off with it.

 

[Mike1710]

We would be in 100% again.

 

[loaders]

I was a member of the board of the NTBA for a number of years, including during the time when we successfully battled the Workers Compensation Board for a more equitable group rating. As mentioned, the NTBA is an entirely volunteer managed and operated entity. Freight brokers, like carriers and most other privately owned businesses are an independent bunch and really only join to work together when there is a common cause to fight for the benefit of all. Like pretty much all trade associations, there always seems to be a small number of ”doers”, actively involved and a large number of “watchers”, just paying their membership dues and sitting idly by. In spite of all this, the NTBA, as the only association of freight brokers in Canada, does have value and hopefully it will continue to operate.